e-cigarettes | Georgetown Pediatrics

The use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, is growing nationwide and in our own community. While the purchase of e-cigarettes is limited to those who are 18+ years old, it’s not that hard to get your hands on e-cigarettes if you’re under legal age.

In our practice we’re very concerned about how e-cigarette ads target teens, and we’re seeing an increase in usage. The “juice” that is used in e-cigarettes comes in child and teen-friendly flavors. This juice is heated by a coil in the device, delivering a high dose of nicotine.

E-cigarettes and other vaping devices may look like traditional cigarettes or cigars, or they may be designed to look like pens, flash drives, or any number of items. These ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) might seem cool, or even a way to quit smoking tobacco, but the nicotine is highly addictive and dangerous.

According to an article by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), here are some important points to know about vaping:

“Kids might use different words to talk about e-cigarettes and vaping. For example, “Juuling” is a popular word among the patients of Susanne E. Tanski, M.D., a tobacco prevention expert from the AAP, to describe using a brand of e-cigarette. About one in four kids who use e-cigarettes also tries “dripping.” Instead of using a mouthpiece to vape, they drip the liquid directly onto a heat coil. This makes the vapor thicker and stronger.
Kids can order “e-juice” on the Internet. The legal age to buy e-cigarettes is 18 years, but online stores don’t always ask for proof of age.
E-cigarette juices are sold in flavors like fruit, candy, coffee and chocolate. Most have the addictive ingredient nicotine. The more kids vape, the more hooked they become. “This is potent stuff,” Dr. Tanski said.
Kids who vape just once are more likely to try other types of tobacco. Their developing brains make it easier for them to get hooked, according to a recent study.
E-cigarettes may not help people quit using tobacco. Some adults use e-cigarettes when they want to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes. While a recent report found e-cigarettes are “less toxic” than cigarettes, most people who use e-cigarettes do not quit using cigarettes.”

The link above also contains a 30-second video about vaping. If your child or teen is vaping, you should be concerned. We can provide a consultation with your child to help them understand the dangers of nicotine addiction. Call for an appointment.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently expressed their concerns about electronic cigarettes at a congressional hearing and on their website. In an article entitled “E-cigarettes: Dangerous, Available & Addicting,” the AAP warns parents about the problems with e-cigs, and those problems are many.

Many adults use e-cigs to try to end their smoking habit. E-cigs deliver nicotine through a battery operated device that resembles a cigarette, but without the tobacco or smoke. The e-cigs use water vapor to deliver the nicotine.

You may think that e-cigs are safer than tobacco cigarettes, but you should know that, according to the AAP, an e-cig “can have as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found cancer-causing chemicals in electronic cigarettes.”

This presents a host of dangers.

Teens, apparently believing that e-cigs are safe, have doubled their use of these devices, bringing the usage to about 1 in 10 high school students. They may be avoiding tobacco, but nicotine is highly addictive.
The AAP is concerned about some e-cig flavors (e.g., vanilla, chocolate, peach schnapps and gummy bears). In the congressional hearing Dr. Suzanne Tanski answered “yes” when asked if she believed these flavors would be appealing to children.
Nicotine is a poison. The cartridges that contain nicotine are not childproof, and, says the AAP article, “Most cartridges have 20 milligrams of nicotine, and a dose of as little as 10 milligrams of nicotine can be fatal for a child. In addition, children can easily become hooked on the nicotine.”
E-cigs are widely available. Even though Kentucky law prohibits their sale to minors under the age of 18, they can be purchased online.

Keep your children away from electronic cigarettes and keep them safe from nicotine addiction or poisoning. If you are trying to quit smoking, nicotine patches or gum are safer alternatives.

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Category Archives: e-cigarettes

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